Yangon: Myanmar went to the polls on Sunday in a historic election that could thrust Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party into power and finally pull the country away from the grip of the military.
Queues of people, many wearing traditional longyi sarongs, built up before daybreak at polling stations across Yangon in a sign of the enthusiasm that has accompanied the milestone vote, hoped to be Myanmar's fairest for a generation.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party believes a fair vote will power it into government after a decades-long struggle against army dictatorship.
But the Nobel Laureate is barred from the presidency by the army-scripted constitution and the NLD faces an uphill struggle as a quarter of seats are reserved for the military.
Known affectionately known as "Mother Suu", she towers over the country's democracy movement, acting as a galvanising force for the NLD.
"I have cast my vote, my duty is done," said 74-year-old Myint Aung, at the Yangon polling station where Suu Kyi will vote later Sunday.
"I voted for the one the people want to rule," he said playfully, before showing a little finger dipped in purple ink to indicate he has voted.
AFP
